March 21, 2007

A few people have emailed asking how to make the little fabric-covered tacks I posted previously. See step-by-step photos below, going from left to right.

Start with a pack of "Wedding Gown Size" (size 20, 1/2") metal buttons to cover (available at fabric stores for about $1.50). Pull the loops off all the button backing pieces with a pliers or wire cutter. Cut your fabric scraps into circles slightly larger than a quarter, or use the circle template printed on the back of your button package. (Since the edges get tucked in under the metal backing, you don't have to be a careful cutter.)

Following the package directions, use the "pusher" tool that came in the pack to cover your buttons with fabric. This step is easy and the most fun! Then use a generous amount of hot glue to attach a tack to the back of your button. A standard tack should fit perfectly. Your cork board will thank you.

UPDATE: You can buy buttons to cover that have flat backs so you don't have to yank off the wire loops! I didn't know this when I made mine. Shoot. Could have saved myself some work. (Update to the update: that link is expired now, but I bet you can find them elsewhere.)

Thanks so much for these great instructions. I tried them out and I love them -- they're addictive!!! I took your idea, embroidered numbers (like Sally did at ShimandSons) and this is what happened: http://thimbleanna.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-obsession.htmlThank you, Thank you!!!

After seeing your tutorial, I ran to my nearest fabric store, bought several sets of covered button kits with the intention to make loads and loads of thumbtacks. However, for the life of me, I couldn't get the fabric to stay inside the button - there was always a frayed edge popping out somewhere. My mother had a tool that came with a buttom making set she bought for upholstery, this helped a little, but we still couldn't get a decent looking button. Ack. I was really disappointed and frustrated by the process because your buttons and Sally's look fantastic.

I'm so sorry to hear that! For some reason, I didn't have that problem. Once I poked the fabric down into the shell with my fingers, it stayed there. Maybe try using a chopstick or something pointy to poke it in? Or, maybe your fabric is really heavy? I used lightweight cotton prints. I've tried to use thicker fabrics before, but it becomes hard to push the back piece on and make it stay. Maybe that's the problem?

I made some!!! and I love them. I'm gifting them to a friend, so THANK YOU for the timely idea.One thing I did (whether is was necessary or not, who knows) to strengthen the bond was to scratch the inside of the button and the top of the tack with a nail to give it more 'tooth'. Also, I was wishing for longer spikes, so I bought some black upholstery tacks that are longer from Walmart, but they won't fit in the 1/2" buttons. So I am going to order slightly larger buttons and see how that turns out.I LOVE THIS IDEA. Next step, making myself some.

My friends and I have a saying that we use when we are thinking about something and suddenly we see it on TV, hear about it on the radio, or someone else brings it up.. We say "Now that's the power." Perhaps others use it too... anyway, I am in the process of painting a cork board for my son's room and I wanted something cooler for thumbtacks. I came across your site via a Curbly blogger who mentioned your Christmas cards. Instead of going to that particular blog entry, I started from your home page and wah-lah - That's the power :) Thanks for sharing the steps to make cool thumbtacks!!

For the tacks I purchased, I found size 24 a better size to accommodate the tack. This also allowed me to display a bit more fabric.

Once you have the pusher tool, go cheap and hit your local design district where you can buy the buttons by the dozen. I paid just $1.15/dozen of the size 24s. You can also scrounge around for some fabric scraps while you're there!

I was able to get teensy but strong magnets from Lee Valley Tools. Plus, magnets are a bit more useful for those of us w/o bulletin boards and esp good if you need something teeny but pretty to hang kid art on the fridge or filing cabinet!

Thank you for the tutorial! Sometimes it's the little changes that mean a lot when it comes to personalizing the mass production things we use everyday. As soon as I get a chance I'm heading over to the closest craft store to pick some button covers up.

Thanks for all your great ideas and clear instructions for how to make the projects! A friend shared your blog with me, and reading it is a favorite way for me to unwind after work. I've given away many of these thumbtacks and they're always a huge hit! Thanks!

I really want to make these, do you know of something I could put on the back to make it longer than a tack? I'm making a jewelry board and want to make some cute push pins that can stick out a bit for necklaces to hang on. Any ideas?

I'm going to try to cover upholstery tacks like this. I use them at the junctions of ribbons on message boards. One of our neices just had a baby, and I want to make a board for baby's room but just didn't like the look of the tacks with the pretty fabric and ribbon I picked out. Thanks for a great idea.kathy

Thanks for the awesome tutorial! I haven't tried it yet but I was wondering if the hot glue is really strong enough to hold the pieces togethere? Does it ever separate when you're pulling the tack out of the cord board? Thanks again! ~Corinne at Baglaicious, http://bagalicious.etsy.com

Oh my word! I am so glad that I found this post!!! I work at a store and we sell fabric covered thumbtacks, but they are a bit overpriced. I thought that I could make them, but wasn't sure how. Thanks for posting this. I now have to run to the fabric store before they close!!

Pardon my interruption, but I am looking for folks that have either "Retro Sewing Blogs" or "Nostalgia Blogs" for an article I am working on . Please send your suggestions to me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com THANKS

What a fantastic idea! I've done buttons, earrings & badges this way but I never thought of thumbtacks (or 'drawing pins', down here). BTW, there is a great Etsy seller who has acrylic templates that let you cut out the exact size of fabric you need for your buttons - Buttonzone. Highly recommended.!

Anonymous, you can order lots of sizes at J Caroline Creative. Get size 20 right here or search on the site for "button cover flat back" and you'll see lots of sizes, available individually or in bulk.

Such a cute idea! I have a question though: is there another type of glue that would work as well as hot glue? I don't have a hot glue gun and don't really want to have to buy one just for this project.

I really loved your fabric button tutorial. It's one of the better tutorials I have come across. I've been compiling a list of the best fabric button tutorials and I've added yours to my site. Let me know if you do any others in the future so I can link to your site and help my customers. If you need any fabric buttons to try new things out, just let me know.